YOU don't always get what you want in life but when Richard Wright lines up for Ipswich against his old club West Ham tonight he will be a very contented man.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

YOU don't always get what you want in life but when Richard Wright lines up for Ipswich against his old club West Ham tonight he will be a very contented man.

When the friendly fixture was first announced Wright was a Hammer, but was desperate to return to the Blues and his wish was granted when the £500,000 move finally went through at the end of last month.

Wright said: “I always knew I would be playing in this game for one team or another and thankfully it has worked out how I wanted it to and I'm playing for Ipswich against West Ham.

“I'm just so happy to be back plying my trade at Portman Road.

“I have had the three games now and it is great. I'm really looking forward to the West Ham game.

“It is going to be a tough, tough, game for us and exactly what we need just before the season starts.”

Wright's desire to leave the Boleyn Ground had nothing to do with personalities or any clashes with manager Alan Curbishley, more a desire to return home and play regular first team football for the man he won promotion with as a player.

Older and wiser himself, Wright has been impressed with Jim Magilton's managerial skills, although tries not to spend too much time around him.

He said: “It is slightly different for goalkeepers because I'm usually off with the goalkeeping coach so we are not with them all the time.

“We only usually come together for practice matches and when working on specific formations.

“We have had so may game lately we have not had much time on training pitch.

“From what I have seen so far though, Jim is doing an excellent job. He knows how to motive the players and get things done.”

Not that Wright expects to go unchallenged for the number one spot and has great respect for Shane Supple who is not prepared to just wait around on the bench.

Wright said: “Shane is a great keeper with a marvellous future.

“We will be pushing each other and hopefully I will get the nod

“There is not another goalie who wants to be number two and I'm sure it will be competitive.”

That said, experience has given Wright a philosophical outlook to pressure and was unfazed about being taken off at Brighton after conceding two goals and replaced by Supple.

He said: “I'm not bothered at all.

“We are going to concede goals because that is what pre season is all about.

“You can't affect what has already happen if you concede a goal you just get on with it.”

Sadly Wright won't be pitting his wits against friend Kieron Dyer who had hoped to make his comeback in this game but is injured once more.

The duo used to share a car to work in London before injury struck last year and Wright knows how much missing this game will hurt Dyer.

He said: “Kieron is a great character and has had a tough year. He was in great shape and I know how much he wanted to play against Ipswich.”

Manager Magilton will be watching to see how his whole side cope with an attack-minded West Ham team, and the likes of former Norwich City striker Craig Bellamy.

He said: “It will be interesting to see how we compete when we don't have the ball.

“West Ham style will suit us and I have no concerns when we have the ball but what happens when we lose it.

“West Ham are a side with plenty of top class players in the side. Craig will be a big test so whoever plays at the back will have to be on their toes for 90 minutes.”

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk